Sunday, February 27, 2011

So glad to be back home. This week continues my trend of sharing 6 sentences from my Work-In-Progress Embraced, which is, by the way the next book in my Conditioned Series. The first book in that series--Eye Contact--is releasing Friday, March 4th! (Yep, that's this week coming up!)

Here are my six sentences from Embraced!

“I’m sorry.” She looked down at the counter. There was no choice; she had to say something to address what happened.“I think that I’m reacting to you this way because I’ve reached the end and I’m not entirely in control of myself.Not as well as I should be, anyway.”

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Initiation is the book of the month at HEA Reviews right now. I've been meaning to do a big THANK YOU! to everyone who voted. I really, really appreciate it and if you haven't read Initiation I hope you'll check it out!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Having just recently been through a terrible experience, one of the things I'm finding that I didn't anticipate was that I would lose my writing. For the week that I was in Louisiana I couldn't write out at all. There was certainly no time for writing but even past that, because I did make an attempt one evening when I was alone in my hotel room, I could not write. Grief was all consuming. I could not write a word.

Today, I gave it another attempt. The muse is back. Sort of. Like Grief--and yes, I'm capitalizing that on purpose--it seems to hit me in spurts. I can write for a minute. Then I can't. Then I can write for another minute.

I'm hoping as Grief wanes into something I can manage over time so shall my writing stamina. A wise person told me today that there is no right way to grieve. I will have to see how it goes.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

I'd like to take a moment to thank all of you for your kind words and thoughts during this time. I am back home now. We had to leave my husband behind in Louisiana, he still has things to do before he can join us. We're missing him and anticipating when he can join us here.

I'm still sad--very sad--but I'm glad to be home in my own bed surrounded by the love and warmth I always feel in my own home. Its either to grieve and move forward in my own space.

As for me, I'm back to writing.

It feels good to be home even as I continue to make my way through this time.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Some people who know us may know that Ralph and I come from two different religious backgrounds. In our life, it's not a problem but I do realize that for others it would be confusing and difficult. I have the highest respect for all and any religious beliefs.

Over the last two days, I have had the opportunity to be with my husband and his family during the Wake and Funeral for my Father-in-law whose death came suddenly last Tuesday in a tragic boating accident. Although they are investigating the circumstances, it is likely we will never know exactly what happened. The other three people in the accident survived the accident, two of them completely physically unscathed. I say physically because watching one of your best friends die before your eyes does not, as I would have guessed and have now witness with my very eyes, leave you emotionally unscathed.

Not at all.

I have had the chance to experience true grace under pressure, the ability to pull yourself together when you don't think you can, and what it means to support and love people even when you yourself are falling apart.

All in all, we got to say goodbye to a great man over the course of two days. I have decided that the best we can hope for when we leave this world is to say that so many people loved us unconditionally, that so many people remember us fondly with stories that still make us laugh, that our children laugh through their tears because 'remember when such-and-such a thing happened?'

We said goodbye in a way that I think my father-in-law would be proud.

Life is so short, beautiful and short. It can come to an end all of a sudden.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

I thought, even with everything that is going on in my life, I wanted to still participate today in Six Sentence Sunday. This is from my current work in progress. Its called Embraced. Best to all of you!

RR

Ben reached out and grabbed the side of Seven’s face. He wasn’t even aware that he’d done that until it happened. It was like his hand had a mind of it’s own.She had the most incredible blue eyes and now they were blacker than the night sky when he couldn’t see any stars.He should be afraid except he wasn’t.Not at all.

He was drawn to them like the moth was to the buzzing light that he hung on his porches to keep the mosquitoes away.

Friday, February 18, 2011

For those of you who don't know, my father-in-law Ralph was killed on Wednesday in a tragic Boat Accident that took place at two thirty in the afternoon. If you're interested, you can read about what happened and who he was here.

As for me, I've been having the hardest time trying to figure out what I should say about him in this blog or if I should say anything at all. The total and complete outpouring of love on Facebook for the man inspired me to write something here so that if he is somehow reading these messages wherever he is in the universe, he can know that I'm thinking about him too!

Ironically, but not surprisingly, my favorite memory of my father-in-law took place on his boat. It was the week before my wedding. One of my sisters-in-law, Jen, had flown in from California for the event. She actually married us but we were days away from that. Later on, we would find out she was pregnant with her first son. Jen frequently blogs about him here.

Anyway, we went out on his boat and spent the day--Jen, my future husband, my father-in-law, my brother-in-law Steven, and me. It was a great day on the water but I wasn't as careful as I should be about the sun. I'm a redhead, I must always be cautious. I got sunburned, a little bit, on my back. My dress, which was strapless, should have hidden the majority of it and did but every once in a while in some of the pictures, you would be able to see little spots of red. Small reminders of the great day we had on the water.

His passion was fishing and boating. Its both a tragedy and fitting that he died doing what he loved. I for one will miss hearing him call me 'daughter-in-law' when he called on the phone. Its hard to be here, in this place that he loved, without him.

To Paw Paw--you are missed. Thank you for the amazing memories. We all love you so much.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

I flew home from Miami last night, landing just before midnight. My husband's father was tragically killed in a terrible boating accident. He was a frequent commenter on this blog and such an important part of our lives.

Right now, I'm not sure when I will be back (we have to leave on another plane.)

If anyone needs me in that time, please e-mail me or call me on the phone.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Hi everyone! I know its the big V-DAY, which I love, but this year I've taken off with my best girlfriend and abandoned the love of my life at home with our three children. (I love you sweetheart!)

It is my friend's birthday and we are celebrating my taking a trip for a few days. I left yesterday and I'm coming back in two days. For those of you who know how I hate to fly, you will know how it probably went at the airport....

Anyhow.

I thought it would be fun to run a contest. So....WHERE IN THE WORLD IS REBECCA ROYCE?

I am going to give you a couple of hints. In the event that more than one person gets the state right, the correct city will win the contest. OH--and the PRIZE--choice of my backlist (Love Beyond Loyalty, Initiation, and Alpha Wolf exempt.)

Oh...and if I've personally told you where I am, then you don't get to win and don't spoil it by telling anyone else.

So here are the hints

1. I had to get on an airplane to get here. (Duh)

2. I went from a cold climate to a warm climate

3. I've only been to this place twice before and never to stay very long. Its a frequent stopover on my way elsewhere.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

This week I am continuing to bring you excerpts from my Work-In-Progress, tentatively entitled Embraced. It is the second book in my Conditioned series. The first one, Eye Contact, is contracted with Decadent Publishing.

She rubbed her head.Personal questions were the worst. Despite her abilities, she hated feeling like a freak. The only reason people wanted to know anything about her so they could talk about her afterwards to their friends or gawk at her.Madame had told them it wasn’t their job to be concerned with what normal, non-conditioned people did.Her role in life was simply to serve others and pray for redemption in the end.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Today is not my Dad's birthday. It's actually tomorrow. But we are celebrating it today and tomorrow I am getting on a Jet Plane and posting a Six Sentence Sunday. Therefore, I want to take today to say HAPPY Birthday (one day early) to my fabulous father.

Friday, February 11, 2011

I thought it might be fun to write about each of the TV shows currently awaiting viewing on my DVR and to tell you all why I like them.

Let's begin.

House Hunters...I do love this show. Its fascinating for me to see what things cost in other places versus here. Also, I love House Hunter's International.

Selling New York...Look, I know the complaints. Obviously, most people in NYC are not buying the 14 million dollar Park Avenue Apartment. But, I like looking at them like I like looking at chocolate cake I shouldn't eat. Its just nice to look.

Iron Chef America...I like this show but this is hubby's DVR taping.

Chuck...Are you watching Chuck? You should be. I never cease to enjoy this show.

Parenthood...I think acting doesn't get any better than this. I cry every week.

30 Rock...I enjoy this show, I think its creative, but hubby loves its.

Community...This show makes both us laugh!!

Mike and Molly...Not since Roseanne has a cast had such great chemistry, in my opinion.

Modern Family...It's silly and a guilty pleasure. Still, we love it.

American Idol....Because J. Lo and Steven Tyler have breathed new life into the show.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

I'm never entirely certain what to blog about but today I actually have a topic to discuss. Its miraculous, isn't it? LOL

Just recently I was e-mailing back and forth with my CP. (Thats critique partner for those of you who do not speak writer-ease.) For me, that is the person with whom I share my work before it is submitted to publishers for consideration. It is, in this case, her job to tell me if there is something that isn't really working in my writing. I suppose this could, sometimes, just be grammar but in my case I find it more helpful to discuss plot and characterization. It's not that grammar doesn't matter--it DOES--but I find I'm more likely to have a book rejected on the basis of plot and characterization than an improperly placed tense or misused word.

My critique partner has recently begun a really fantastic Young Adult High Fantasy series that I think you will all enjoy reading immensely when it comes out and you can be sure I'll be showing it off here when the time comes. (YAY!) She's contracted the first book and is now on a deadline to write Book 2 and Book 3 for the publisher.

The plot is there, the characters strong, and the writing outstanding, as I would expect from her--Really, she makes my job so easy.

For me, writing the second book is never easy.

For me, I get The Second Book Blues. I've faced them quite a bit. See the titles featured above--Love Beyond Sanity (available from Eirelander Publishing), Summer's Wolf (available from Liquid Silver Books), and Driven (not yet available from Decadent Publishing.)

Each time I have gone to write the second book in a series, I have found myself stumbling. It's as if I never wrote the first book at all. I don't know the characters, I can't recognize the plot, I feel as though the world has ended with Book 2.

Why is this? Its because of the big D in the writing world: Doubt.

When a plot bunny first appears to a writer it's like a gift from the heavens. You have a story--and not just a story but a SERIES--that you can adequately write and someone has BOUGHT it. Hallelujah. You love it. You love the characters. You love everything about it. Miraculously, the publisher loved it. They contracted it.

Now what? Now you have to make something AGAIN. You have to do not just as good a job as you did in Book 1 but you have to do it in Book 2. What if you can't? What if Book 1 was just a fluke? What if you're not really a good writer? You just managed to fool everyone in Book 1?

HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY WRITE BOOK 2?

The good news? It passes somewhere in the middle of the Book. You are a good writer--or at least as good as you ever were (LOL)--and Book 2 is, in my opinion, often better than Book 1.

So I need a favor. I'm writing a Book 2 right now. When I freak out tomorrow--can someone remind me of this?

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

I feel like I'm back in elementary school and I'm running for Vice President. Please vote for me! LOL. But seriously, my Young Adult Book is up for Best Book of January from Happily Ever After Reviews. If you liked the book, could you stop by and vote? I'd appreciate it. The contest is found here.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Hello! And welcome to this week's installment of Six Sentence Sunday. It comes from my current Work In Progress. It is the second book in a series called The Conditioned that I am writing. The first book Eye Contact is contracted with Decadent Publishing. I don't have a release date yet but when I do I will let you know. This one is tentatively called Embraced.

“What?”Somewhere along the line Ben had lost track of this conversation.

“Benedicte Lavelle, I’m asking you what you are going to do to mark the death of your wife? Four years ago tomorrow? Ring some kind of bell?”

Ben put his head in his hands.“Jesus Christ.”He’d fucking forgotten.In the midst of it all, he’d forgotten Dana’s death.What kind of monster was he?

Saturday, February 5, 2011

My husband and I watched this movie today. It was really outstandingly good and I suggest that everyone should watch it. In some ways, it will blow your mind.

But for me, I was actually not surprised about some things. I am 99% sure that someone I dealt with rather frequently on the Internet for a while was not who they claimed to be. Or at least their whole story was not what they would have had me believe.

1. I love to go to new places but I HATE to travel on airplanes. I do it all the time but I never get any less nervous about it.

2. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats

3. I'm a fast reader. I can read an entire book in one day if I'm left alone to do it. Of course, I have 3 kids under 6 so I'm very rarely left alone to do it...

4. I love to eat. I'm a major foodie and going into NYC to eat in really fine restaurants is a passion of mine. But, I'm also in LOVE with a really good Italian restaurant that is in my town. I don't have to get dressed up to go there and in some ways I prefer it.

5. I adore my kids and my husband. Before I had them I hadn't realized my heart could be divided into four parts

6. I can write about 3500 words a day if I'm left alone to do it. See comment 3.

7. I love purses. I don't think I can have too many. (Really, honey, I don't! LOL)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Hi everyone, I am thrilled to announce the release of my third book in my Outsider series with Eirelander Publishing. It is Gabriel and Loraine's story. If you are interested in hearing more about the book or buying it, you can find it here!

Hope you are warmer than I am wherever you are!

Here is a blurb:

Love is the first step in saving the world

Gabriel believes he is an Outsider. Hell, he’s always known he was different. Loraine can speak to animals. Other than that, she thinks she’s a regular woman making her way in the world. If they can both survive what’s going on perhaps they’ll find their way to their ultimate destiny: love.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

This is a very exciting day for me! I am now a Young Adult author! Today, my book Initiation released with Decadent Publishing. It is the first in a series called The Warrior and it can be bought here.

Here is the blurb:

My name is Rachel Clancy. Thirty years before I was born, the world ended. Today is my sixteenth birthday. Today I will go Upwards to fight the monsters and, statistically speaking, I won’t be coming back—at least not still living.

Initiation is the story of sixteen year old Rachel Clancy, born with a specific set of genes that let her fight monsters, she has trained her entire life to kill Vampires and Werewolves. Knowing since birth what her destiny would be has not made the onslaught of emotions she faces as she journey Upwards any easier. It doesn’t help that her father is drunk and her best friend just doesn’t get ‘it.’

Rachel isn’t prepared for the level of deception she faces, and before long she will find herself on a quest she is in no way prepared to handle. What happens next will alter not only Rachel’s life but the lives of everyone she knows. She will learn beyond a shadow of a doubt that sometimes the monsters we know are worse than the ones we don’t and that love can surprise us when it comes from somewhere we never anticipated it.

If she lives, she will be a Warrior. If she doesn’t, no one will ever remember her name.

Genre: Young adult, urban fantasy, paranormal romance

Heat level: 1

Cover art by Dara England

~Excerpt~

“My mother used to call this apple cider weather.”

I had been doing my best to pretend I was unaffected by Jason’s presence, but I wasn’t. He felt warm, even the distance we walked apart, like he was a hot presence in a world of freezing cold eventualities.

“I know what apples are. We get them sometimes. What is apple cider? Some kind of drink?”

“Breaks my heart that you live in a world with no apple cider.” The grimace on his face was a huge indication then he meant what he said. He really was…beautiful, in a way most guys, or even grown men, were not.

Jason seemed to light up from the inside out. Maybe it came from actually being outside all the time but his skin glowed with freshness. Or maybe it was a Werewolf thing, a monster thing.

“Do you do this all the time? Take on Warriors and not tell them why you’re holding them prisoner?”

He raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a smile before falling straight again. “Do you feel like a prisoner?”

“Do you answer every question with a question?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I did promise you answers. But first, tell me if you feel better out here? Less likely to hurl away all that fine turkey?”

I stopped walking and turned to look at him. “I feel much better, thank you.” I got my first look at the house we had just exited. I covered my mouth with my hand to suppress my gasp and I looked again. It wasn’t really a house—it was a giant tent—standing in front of a dozen giant tents just like it. I could see from where I stood how it was built. The walls were solid, but only because large beams in the ground held them up. I hadn’t thought to feel the walls earlier. Why would I? They had looked like concrete, but they weren’t, they were actually cloth and something else—vinyl, maybe?

“You guys are prepared to leave at any time, aren’t you?”

“We’re nomadic. We never stay anywhere very long.”

I couldn’t be sure, but I thought I heard sadness in his voice. I could ask him about it. He’d put his emotion right out there for me to hear it, which begged the question: just how well did I want to know Jason?

At some point, I was going to turn a corner with this Werewolf where I was going to start thinking of him as a living, breathing, cognizant being whose head I wouldn’t be able to cut off. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that.

And yet…

“Would you rather stay put?” I spoke the words.

“Maybe. See, I can still remember what it was like, to have a house that was a home, to have neighbors, to go to school."